ICYMI: Shockwaves Continue
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As the Mideast continues to roil, tensions are spilling into Hollywood with turmoil this week focused around one particular lightning rod incident (with, no doubt, more to follow). When high-flying CAA superagent Maha Dakhil posted her thoughts on Instagram just over a week ago, affirming another post that used the word “genocide” to refer to Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza, she set off an industry firestorm — the likes of which the buttoned-up agency behemoth rarely experiences. The post was taken down in an hour, an apology posted… but the furor blazed on.
The Ankler was at the forefront of the conversation — and the week’s other news — in case you missed it:
Maha Dakhil and a CAA Crisis
Claire Atkinson broke news of Dakhil stepping back from CAA’s internal board and leadership in the motion picture group, while also documenting the highly-charged internal drama that led to the changes. Claire details Dakhil’s attempts to repair damage, including the sending of a meeting invitation to her Jewish colleagues that was declined by many; those who did show excoriated her. And that’s just part of the story:
Crime and Punishment, Questioned
Still, Richard wonders whether the ostracizing of Dakhil follows the dangerous precedent of other recent such outrages that lead to more anger, rather than understanding:
What Apple Paid to Get Martin Scorsese
Peter Kiefer broke news of the extraordinary financial transaction that took place between Paramount and Apple in order to make Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, including a massive recoupment to Paramount on development costs. In other words, that $200 million budget was just the beginning. “Apparently, the guys at Apple are still smarting over it,” a source with knowledge of the deal told The Ankler:
Nader Sounds the AI Alarm
It’s not every day that Ralph Nader calls The Ankler, but the legendary consumer advocate did just that this week, frustrated over his attempts to reach Fran Drescher (you see, he too is a SAG-AFTRA member). In his conversation with Elaine Low, he warned how AI will spell doom for the entertainment industry if SAG-AFTRA doesn’t make the right deal:
Hollywood’s Own Michael Myers
Richard compiles a list of 12 of the worst Hollywood horror stories, from malevolent bosses to aggressive former child stars:
The Branded Future of Hollywood
The Ankler hit Advertising Week New York in Manhattan with two panels: one featured experts examining the future of branded content in entertainment; another conversation featured Dan Jasnow, a partner of the law firm ArentFox Schiff who specializes in A.I.:
☀️The Wakeup
Sean McNulty was in rare earnings call form this week, dissecting Comcast and Disney-nemesis Charter (with more to come next week), while also finding time to join CBS News to talk SAG-AFTRA negotiations and revenue sharing:
🎧 Podcasts
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THE ANKLER
How a CAA agent-to-the-stars ended up sidelined as who-said-what inflames Hollywood:
Transcript here
MARTINI SHOT
Rob Long on how to manage 'incomplete success' in hard times; we guarantee this one will lift your mood:
Transcript here
🪧Strikegeist
Elaine Low joined KCRW’s Press Play with Madeleine Brand to discuss the latest on the SAG-AFTRA strike. Please subscribe to our FREE strike newsletter, Strikegeist, for the latest in Hollywood labor.
👓 The Optionist
The Optionist, our curated newsletter about available intellectual property, had a good week, with several projects first featured by Andy Lewis, announced as deals. Stay on top of your next project, and join the Emmy and Oscar-nominated writers, producers, and development executives around town who already subscribe, and sign up here:
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